Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isfahan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isfahan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $478 in Isfahan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $831 in Isfahan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,185 in Isfahan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 162% more than Isfahan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Isfahan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Isfahan 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$2.91 $2.91
56.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,554
$10.98 $10.98
320.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$2.98 $2.98
196.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.97 $0.97
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.05 $2.05
-
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$0.83 $0.83
268.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.42
$0.51 $0.51
43.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.40
$0.93 $0.93
-56.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$0.56 $0.56
303.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.43 $0.43
320.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.18 $2.18
3.21%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$1.53 $1.53
47.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$2.74 $2.74
612.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$3.00 $3.00
21.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$9.93 $9.93
31.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$0.63 $0.63
412.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.36 $1.36
19.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.2
$1.00 $1.00
138.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.2
$0.55 $0.55
269.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.60 $0.60
155.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.52 $0.52
188.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.93
$0.55 $0.55
78.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.40
$0.21 $0.21
147.62%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.51 $0.51
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.54 $0.54
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 $0.74
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$2.06 $2.06
115.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$0.31 $0.31
354.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$13.28 $13.28
-11.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$0.51 $0.51
509.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.08
$0.29 $0.29
258.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿475
$1.99 $1.99
609.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.13
$0.85 $0.85
54.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿936.0K
$67.1K $67.1K
-58.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$58.4K $58.4K
-43.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,120
$14.77 $14.77
728.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$1.84 $1.84
638.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$7.72 $7.72
142.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$13.71 $13.71
341.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿572
$10.56 $10.56
60.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$1.12 $1.12
709.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$71.9 $71.9
882.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.8K
$586 $586
2598.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,970
$18.19 $18.19
221.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,190
$23.89 $23.89
48.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,885
$85.0 $85.0
35.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,818
$36.92 $36.92
126.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$288 $288
117.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$197 $197
125.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.7K
$901 $901
126.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$522 $522
185.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.2K
$1,195 $1,195
191.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$723 $723
256.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Isfahan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$209 $209
138.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
26.86
-80.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Isfahan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $288 in Isfahan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 139% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $11.00 in Isfahan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $103 – making Isfahan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Isfahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Isfahan?
Phuket costs about 162% more than Isfahan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Isfahan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $716 in Isfahan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Isfahan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Isfahan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Isfahan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $11.00 in Isfahan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Isfahan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $478 in Isfahan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Isfahan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Isfahan, where all-in costs run around $478, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Isfahan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Isfahan?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Isfahan costs $478 versus $1,250 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Isfahan?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or to Isfahan?
If budget matters most, go with Isfahan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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